“Give him a while to wake up, and a nurse will come and get you,” he replied.

I had no other words, only thoughts of Kayden.

I didn’t move. I cried—no—I sobbed. I didn’t know if they were tears of sadness or joy. Kayden survived Lisa’s attack, he didn’t leave me.

I entered his room slowly. He looked weak—he fought for his life. The machines beeped in a steady rhythm as I walked towards his bed. Butterflies filled by stomach as I stood over him looking at his beautiful face. I kissed his forehead, trying to smell him, but his scent was missing, replaced with the antiseptic smell of a hospital. I sat down in the chair besides his bed and held his hand. Resting my cheek against his hand, I closed my eyes exhaustion overtaking me. I longed to feel his touch.

The Beginning

I opened my eyes to a yellow room, beeping machines filling my ears. I could feel Sophia’s face against my hand and I turned my head to look at her. Her face was peaceful after all that she had been through. Everything was because of me. I could have lost her to Lisa and my life would have been over, forever.

“Sophia…” I whispered, moving my fingers to rub against her cheek. Drool ran down the side of her face. That was my Sophia. I didn’t want to startle her. She sat up quickly as if in shock.

“Kayden, I love you,” she said. She kissed my forehead, my cheeks, ending on my lips. “Shhh. Don’t speak, just rest.” Tears ran down her cheeks.

“I love you, too, lay with me please,” I said. I needed to feel her in my arms. I wanted her to curl up against my side, her spot. I hadn’t slept a night without Sophia in over six months.

“I don’t know, Kayden, I don’t want to hurt you, baby,” she said grimacing.

“Get up here, I need you.” I patted the bed next to me, not taking no for an answer.

She climbed on the bed carefully and kicked off her flip flops, falling to the floor with a thud. I let her try and tangle her body around me, but she seemed so uncertain.

“Baby, don’t worry about hurting me, just lay with me.” She finally stopped and rested her head against my chest. I wrapped my arm around her and kissed her head, inhaling her scent. She fell asleep within minutes. I laid there listening to her breathing, the soft snore escaping her lips. I stroked her arm relishing in the feel of her smooth skin.

Footsteps approaching the bed woke me. Two police officers entered my room and for the first time in years, I wasn’t scared by their presence.

“Sorry to bother you, Mr. Michaels, but we need to get a statement from Ms. DeLuca,” the officer said.

“She’s sleeping, can’t you come back another time,” I asked.

“No, sir. We need to get something on the record quickly from Ms. DeLuca.”

“I’ve already given you a statement of what happened. What more do you need?” I asked.

“We need to hear from her. You weren’t home or alert for some of the events. We need her to fill in the blanks,” the officer replied.

“I’m awake,” she said in low sleepy voice. “What can I do for you, officer?”

“We need you to tell us what happened on the night of May thirty-first,” he said to me.

She recounted the events—waking up to Lisa standing over our bed, the gun, trying to fight her off, and then the shooting. It was the first time I heard the full story. My heart hurt listening to everything she went through with Lisa and that I didn’t go home sooner to save her. I squeezed her hand as she retold the story and she gave me a fake smile. She made the officer aware of the history between the three of us. She wanted all the information to be out in the open.

Lisa had been placed under arrest for the attack on Sophia and my attempted murder.

As the officer walked out the door I whispered, “I’m sorry you had to go through that, Sophia.” I kissed her head. I touched her chin; bringing it up, making her look into my eyes. “I love you… Thank you for saving us both.”

“You’re free of her. She can’t hurt you—us—anymore. I’ll love you, forever,” she said, leaning forward kissing my lips.

“You’re mine, Sophia, always. I’ll never leave you. Don’t ever give up on us,” I said against her lips. She snuggled back into my arms. I finally felt like I could breathe relax, the first time in a long time. We could move forward with our life— nothing would tear us apart. I don’t know what the future holds for us, but I felt a sense of hope. I wanted a family with her… I wanted to grow old together. I loved being spontaneous and surprising her, as long as it didn’t end in handcuffs … well, at least not those used by the police.

“Kayden, will you tell me about your past? There’s so much I don’t know about you,” she asked looked at me with big brown puppy dog eyes.

“Where do you want me to start?” I said butterflies filling my stomach. “You don’t want to hear everything Sophia.” I cringed at the thought of telling her about my entire past. I knew she’d still love me, but she didn’t know the depth of my depravity and addictions throughout the years.

“Start at the beginning, I want to hear everything. I love you no matter what, Kayden. I’ve earned the right to hear the good, the bad, and the ugly.” She winked at me and chuckled.

6 months later…

“The court has been notified that Ms. Jackson has accepted a plea bargain from the district attorney in exchange for pleading guilty to a lesser offense,” the judge stated.

My blood boiled as the judge spoke. I wanted that bitch to pay for everything she did to us and to Kayden, but she took the easy way out. She found a way to have her charges reduced from attempted murder to assault and battery. The court found her unable to stand trial earlier due to a mental problem and ordered her into treatment placing her on medication. The court now claims that Lisa is able to make coherent decisions and she weaseled her way into a plea deal. Kayden rubbed my hand as I listened to her words.

“Ms. Jackson you are sentenced to ten years in prison with the possibility of parole in three. Court is adjourned.” The gavel hammered down and the there was nothing more to be done. Kayden squeezed my hand, but I felt deflated by the legal system. Ten years seems unfair for almost killing the love of my life and the hell she put us both through.

The bailiff walked to Lisa and waited for her to stand. Lisa turned slowly as she stood to walk out and looked towards us. She grinned at Kayden and it caused my stomach to lurch and a lump to form in my throat. It was not an “I’m sorry grin”, but an “I’m not done with you yet” one. I’d be at every single parole hearing to make sure that conniving whore stays in prison.

“I fucking hate her,” Kayden said as we watched her walk out.

“She almost killed you and she only gets ten years? It’s unbelievable,” I said standing up.

Kayden wrapped his arms around me, enveloping me in his heat. “We’re free of her for a long time, baby doll. We’ll do everything we can to keep her behind bars. Don’t worry, Sophia.”

I nuzzled his neck, closed my eyes, and inhaled his smell, the scent of home. Kayden had become that to me, made me feel all things were possible, and as a team we could overcome any obstacle. His lips brushed against my temple with a whisper light kiss and calmed my stomach and making me believe everything would be okay.

“Let’s go home. You’re looking a little pale, sweetheart, are you okay?” he said.

I looked up into his big green eyes and smiled. There’s no place in the world I’d rather be in this moment than home wrapped in his arms the rest of the world shut out. “I haven’t felt myself lately. It’s just the stress of the trial; I’ll be okay now that it’s over.”